以至阳勾至阴。脱阴反阳。故曰灵砂（濒湖） 升灵砂法。用新锅安逍遥炉上。密揩锅
底。文火下烧。入硫黄二两。溶化。投水银半斤。以铁匙急搅作青砂头。如有焰起。喷醋解
之。待汞不见星。取出细研。盛入水火鼎内。盐泥固济。下以自然火升之。干水十二盏为度。
取出。如束针纹者成矣。（胡寅） 未升鼎者。谓之青金丹头。已升鼎者。乃曰灵砂。（庚辛
玉册）气味甘温。急救治五脏百病。养神。安魂魄。益气明目。通血脉。止烦满。益精神。
久服通神明。令人心灵。（唐慎微）主上盛下虚。痰涎壅盛。头旋吐逆。霍乱反胃。心腹冷
痛。升降阴阳。既济水火。调和五脏。辅助元气。（研末糯糊为丸。枣汤服。或参汤。）最能
镇坠。神丹也。（濒湖）
硫为阳精。汞乃阴精。纯阴纯阳。二体相合。故能夺造化之妙。而升降阴阳。既济水火。
为扶危拯急之神丹。但不可久服耳。（又） 此药有配合阴阳之妙。治久患反胃。及一切吐
逆。小儿惊吐。其效如神。以阴阳水送之尤妙。（东坡） 灵砂窃阴阳之妙。借以坠阳交阴。
除邪养正。真有神功。（仲淳） 专治虚人夜不得睡。梦中惊魇。自汗忪（音忠。心动。惶
遽也。）悸。灵砂二钱研。人参半钱。枣仁一钱。为末。枣肉丸绿豆大。临卧。枣汤吞五七
粒。虚惫便浊。滴地成霜。用莲肉干藕节龙骨远志各一两。枯白矾灵砂各二钱半。为细末。
糯米糊丸梧子大。每服十五丸。食前白汤下。上二证皆病于元气之孤危。由于升降不前者。
九窍出血。因暴惊而得。其脉虚者。灵砂丹三十粒。人参汤下。三服愈。此证不可认作血热
妄行而用凉药。何者。惊则气浮。神魂发越。阳气暴壅故也。得镇
坠则神魂复安。而血自循经矣。
〔论〕 硫恋于铅。则硫为阴中之阳。汞出砂中。见火则出。是为阳中之阴。硫固阳之
动。汞亦阴之动者也。经曰。两精相搏谓之神。俱取阴阳之动者。使二气相感而即以相应。
能疗上实下虚之笃证。故曰灵砂。人知阳动阴静。殊不知阴阳俱有动静也。夫铅霜铅丹。功
略相似。何兹丹独以灵名。盖铅霜（铅杂汞合炼作片。醋熏成霜。）为二宫之一。气相应也。
铅丹（铅合硫硝制为末）为同宫之二气相合也。惟灵砂既为二宫。（水中之火火中之水）又
属二气。（阴中之阳阳中之阴）特以两精相搏。能转上下之元机。故非灵不足以命之。升灵
砂法。君以水银。佐以石硫。盖取阳中之阴所化者为主。而和以阴中之阳所化者。俾之二气
交以为升降也。（夫硫汞制而成形谓之丹基。可以变化五行。炼成九还。岂不能握升降之枢
哉。）汞乃阳中之阴。离中之坎也。离得坎为用。而离之化乃神。然离原在坎中。如硫是也。
阳火出于地中。故离得坎以神其化。不得坎中之离以合之。则至阳出于至阴之化机不畅。是
以汞多于硫者。由阴畅阳也。少用硫以和离者。取其化原在是耳。即此参之。则人身阳中之
阴。诚为补后天疗虚羸之要会。凡虚中生火如溢血等证。宜于要会留心。如止从先天元阴处
调剂。恐缓不及事。且亦未能中病之肯要也。又按上实下虚。类本于阴虚。经云。人年四十
则阴气自半。六十阴气大衰。下虚上实。如灵砂所疗。又下虚上实之极。而阴阳将离绝者也。
制灵砂法。汞八两。硫止二两。固知所本矣。此药虽曰升降阴阳。既济心肾。然硫汞有毒性。
亦下坠。救急则可。补养无功。胃虚呕吐。伤暑霍乱。肺热生痰者禁。凡病属于虚。非关骤
发者。咸在所忌。（仲淳）
以至于阳牵引至阴，使脱失之阴气反归于阳。因此称之为灵砂。（李时珍）
升炼灵砂的方法：使用新锅安置在逍遥炉上，仔细擦拭锅底，用微火慢慢加热。放入二两硫黄，使其熔化，然后投入半斤水银，用铁勺快速搅拌形成青砂头。如果有火焰升起，喷洒醋来化解它。等到看不见汞星（未反应的水银珠），取出后细细研磨。装入水火鼎内，用盐泥密封加固，下面用自然之火升炼。以干水十二盏为限度。取出后，如果呈现束针纹的形态，就成功了。（胡寅）
尚未入鼎升炼的，称为青金丹头；已经入鼎升炼的，才叫灵砂。（《庚辛玉册》）
气味甘温。能急救治疗五脏百病，养神，安魂魄，益气明目，通血脉，止烦闷胀满，益精神。长期服用可通神明，令人心灵手巧。（唐慎微）主治上盛下虚，痰涎壅盛，头晕呕吐，霍乱反胃，心腹冷痛。能升降阴阳，既济水火，调和五脏，辅助元气。（研成粉末，用糯米糊做成丸剂，枣汤送服，或用参汤送服。）最能镇坠安神，是神丹。（李时珍）
硫是阳精，汞是阴精，纯阴与纯阳两种物质相结合，所以能夺取造化的奥妙，升降阴阳，既济水火，成为扶危拯急的神丹。但不可长期服用。（同上）
此药有配合阴阳的奇妙之处，治疗久患反胃及一切呕吐逆证，小儿惊吐，效果如神。用阴阳水送服尤其美妙。（苏轼）
灵砂窃取阴阳的奥妙，借以坠阳交阴，除邪养正，真有神功。（陈实功）
专门治疗虚人夜间无法入睡，梦中惊魇，自汗心悸（音忠，心动、惶遽的意思）。取灵砂二钱研末，人参半钱，酸枣仁一钱，研为细末，用枣肉做成绿豆大小的丸剂。临睡前，用枣汤吞服五到七粒。对于虚惫导致的小便浑浊，滴在地上像霜一样。用莲肉、干藕节、龙骨、远志各一两，枯白矾、灵砂各二钱半，研为细末，糯米糊做成梧桐子大小的丸剂。每次服用十五丸，饭前用白开水送下。以上两种病症都是由于元气孤危，升降功能停滞不前所致。
如果是九窍出血，因突然受惊而得，脉象虚弱的，服用灵砂丹三十粒，人参汤送下，三次服用即可痊愈。此证不可误认为是血热妄行而使用凉药。为什么呢？因为惊则气浮，神魂发散，阳气暴聚壅滞的缘故。得到镇坠之药则神魂复安，血液自然循经而行。
〔论〕 硫依恋于铅，则硫成为阴中之阳；汞从砂中出来，见火则显现，这是阳中之阴。硫固然是阳的动势，汞也是阴的动势。《内经》说：“两精相搏谓之神。”同时摄取阴阳的动势，使二气相互感应而相应，能够治疗上实下虚的重症，所以叫灵砂。人们只知道阳动阴静，却不知道阴阳都有动静。铅霜和铅丹的功效大致相似，为什么唯独这个丹方以“灵”命名？大概铅霜（铅杂汞合炼制成片，醋熏成霜）属于二宫之一，气机相应；铅丹（铅合硫硝制成粉末）是同宫之二气的结合。只有灵砂既是二宫（水中之火，火中之水），又属二气（阴中之阳，阳中之阴）。特别因为两精相搏，能转动上下元气的枢纽，所以不是“灵”字不足以命名它。
升炼灵砂的方法，以水银为主药，石硫为辅药。大概是取阳中之阴所化生的物质作为主药，再调和阴中之阳所化生的物质，使二气交互作用以完成升降。（硫汞制而成形称为丹基，可以变化五行，炼成九还大丹，岂不能掌握升降的枢纽吗？）
汞是阳中之阴，离卦中的坎爻。离卦得到坎爻的作用，其变化才显出神妙。然而离原本就在坎中，就像硫一样。阳火出于地中，所以离卦得到坎爻才能神化其变化。如果不得到坎中的离爻来合应，那么至阳出于至阴的化机就不通畅。因此汞多于硫，是由阴来畅达阳。少用硫来调和离卦，是因为取其化源在此。由此参照，人身中阳中之阴，确实是补后天、疗虚羸的要会。凡是虚中生火如溢血等证，应在要会处留心调理。如果只从先天元阴处调剂，恐怕缓不济急，而且也不能击中疾病的要害。
另外按：上实下虚，类本于阴虚。《内经》说：“人年四十则阴气自半，六十阴气大衰。”下虚上实，如灵砂所治疗的病症，又是下虚上实的极端情况，阴阳即将离绝。
制灵砂法，汞八两，硫仅二两，固知其所本了。此药虽然说是升降阴阳，既济心肾，但硫汞有毒性，且性质下沉，救急则可以，补养则无功。胃虚呕吐，伤暑霍乱，肺热生痰者禁用。凡是属于虚损而非骤然发作的病，都在禁忌之列。（陈实功）
Until the Supreme Yang draws in the Supreme Yin, causing the Yin that has escaped to return to Yang. Therefore it is called Ling Sha (Cinnabar Spirit).
Method for sublimating Ling Sha: Place a new pot on a Xiaoyao stove. Thoroughly wipe the bottom of the pot. Apply gentle heat. Add two taels of Sulfur (Liu Huang), melt it, then投 (throw in) half a jin of Mercury (Shui Yin). Stir rapidly with an iron spoon to form Qing Sha Tou (Green Sand Head). If flames arise, spray vinegar to extinguish them. Wait until no mercury stars (unreacted droplets) are visible. Remove and grind finely. Place into a Shui Huo Ding (Water-Fire Cauldron), seal tightly with salt mud. Sublimate using natural fire below. The limit is twelve cups of dry water. Upon removal, if it exhibits the texture of bundled needles, it is complete. (Hu Yin)
Before entering the cauldron for sublimation, it is called Qing Jin Dan Tou (Green Gold Pill Head). After entering the cauldron, it is termed Ling Sha. (Geng Xin Yu Ce)
Taste and nature: Sweet and warm. It can urgently treat diseases of the five zang organs and hundred ailments, nourishes the spirit (Shen), calms the hun and po, tonifies qi, brightens the eyes, unblocks blood vessels, stops irritability and fullness, benefits the spirit. Long-term use opens the divine intelligence, making the mind agile. (Tang Shenwei)
Indications: Upper excess and lower deficiency, copious phlegm-saliva, dizziness, vomiting, cholera, regurgitation, cold pain in the heart and abdomen. It regulates the ascending and descending of Yin and Yang, achieves mutual assistance between Water and Fire, harmonizes the five zang organs, and assists the primal Qi. (Grind into powder, make pills with glutinous rice paste, take with jujube decoction or Ginseng decoction.) It is most capable of anchoring and suppressing, a miraculous pill. (Li Shizhen)
Sulfur is the essence of Yang; Mercury is the essence of Yin. Pure Yin and pure Yang combine, thus capturing the wonders of creation, regulating the ascent and descent of Yin and Yang, and achieving mutual assistance between Water and Fire, becoming a miraculous pill for rescuing critical conditions. However, it should not be taken for a long time. (Same author)
This medicine possesses the subtlety of coordinating Yin and Yang. It treats chronic regurgitation and all types of vomiting and reflux, as well as pediatric convulsive vomiting, with effects like magic. Sending it down with Yin-Yang Water is particularly excellent. (Su Dongpo)
Ling Sha steals the subtleties of Yin and Yang, utilizing them to anchor Yang and connect with Yin, expelling evil and nurturing righteousness, truly possessing divine efficacy. (Chen Shigong)
Specifically treats deficiency patients who cannot sleep at night, experiencing nightmares and palpitations with spontaneous sweating (Zhong refers to heart movement, agitation, and fear). Take two qian of Ling Sha ground, half a qian of Ren Shen (Ginseng), one qian of Zao Ren (Semen Ziziphi Spinosae), grind into fine powder, make pills the size of mung beans using jujube flesh. Before sleep, swallow five to seven pills with jujube decoction. For deficiency exhaustion leading to turbid urine that forms frost-like deposits on the ground: Use Lian Rou (Lotus Seed), Gan Ou Jie (Dried Lotus Rhizome Node), Long Gu (Fossilized Bones), and Yuan Zhi each one tael; Ku Bai Fan (Alumen Exsiccatum) and Ling Sha each two qian and half, grind into fine powder, make pills the size of wu-tzu seeds with glutinous rice paste. Take fifteen pills before meals with plain boiled water. Both aforementioned conditions stem from precarious primal Qi due to stagnation in ascent and descent.
For bleeding from the nine orifices caused by sudden fright, with a deficient pulse: Take thirty pills of Ling Sha Dan, administered with Ginseng decoction. Three doses cure this. This condition must not be mistaken for reckless bleeding due to blood heat treated with cooling herbs. Why? Because fright causes Qi to float, Hun and Shen to scatter, and Yang Qi to suddenly congest. With anchoring and suppressing agents, Hun and Shen return to peace, and blood naturally follows its vessels.
[Discussion] Sulfur adheres to Lead, thus Sulfur becomes Yang within Yin; Mercury emerges from cinnabar ore, appearing upon exposure to fire, which is Yin within Yang. Sulfur is indeed the movement of Yang; Mercury is also the movement of Yin. The Classic states: "The interaction of two essences is called Shen (Spirit)." By simultaneously taking the movements of Yin and Yang, allowing the two Qi to resonate and correspond, it can treat severe cases of upper excess and lower deficiency. Hence it is called Ling Sha. People know that Yang moves and Yin is still, but do not realize that both Yin and Yang possess movement and stillness. Qian Shuang (Lead Frost) and Qian Dan (Lead Red) have similar functions. Why is this pill uniquely named "Ling" (Spirit)? Perhaps because Qian Shuang (Lead mixed with Mercury, refined into sheets, fumigated with vinegar to form frost) belongs to one of the two palaces, with corresponding Qi. Qian Dan (Lead combined with Sulfur and Saltpeter, made into powder) is the combination of two Qi within the same palace. Only Ling Sha constitutes both two palaces (Fire within Water, Water within Fire) and two Qi (Yang within Yin, Yin within Yang). Specifically, due to the interaction of two essences, it can turn the mechanism of Yuan Qi in the upper and lower parts. Thus, only "Ling" suffices to name it.
In the method of sublimating Ling Sha, Mercury is the sovereign herb, and Stone Sulfur is the assistant. This likely takes the substance transformed from Yang within Yin as the main component, and harmonizes it with the substance transformed from Yin within Yang, enabling the two Qi to interact for ascent and descent. (When Sulfur and Mercury are processed into shape, it is called Dan Ji [Pill Base], capable of transforming the Five Elements and refining into Nine Returns. How could it not grasp the pivot of ascent and descent?)
Mercury is Yin within Yang, Kan within Li. Li gains utility through Kan, and the transformation of Li becomes divine. However, Li originally resides within Kan, just as Sulfur does. Yang fire originates from within the earth; thus, Li requires Kan to divine its transformation. Without combining with the Li within Kan, the transformative mechanism of Supreme Yang emerging from Supreme Yin would not flow smoothly. Therefore, there is more Mercury than Sulfur, allowing Yin to smooth out Yang. Using less Sulfur to harmonize Li is because the source of transformation lies therein. From this reference, the Yin within Yang in the human body is indeed a crucial meeting point for tonifying the Post-Heaven and treating emaciation. For conditions such as overflow bleeding arising from deficiency-generated fire, attention should be paid to this crucial point. If adjustment is made solely from the perspective of Pre-Heaven Primordial Yin, it may be too slow to address urgent matters, and may not hit the key aspect of the disease.
Furthermore, Upper Excess and Lower Deficiency generally originate from Yin Deficiency. The Classic says: "At forty, a person's Yin Qi halves; at sixty, Yin Qi declines significantly." Lower deficiency and upper excess, as treated by Ling Sha, represent the extreme of this state, where Yin and Yang are about to separate.
In the preparation of Ling Sha, eight taels of Mercury and only two taels of Sulfur are used, confirming its basis. Although this medicine is said to regulate the ascent and descent of Yin and Yang, and achieve mutual assistance between Heart and Kidney, Sulfur and Mercury are toxic and heavy/sinking. They are suitable for emergency rescue but ineffective for tonic nourishment. Contraindicated in stomach deficiency with vomiting, summerheat cholera, and lung heat generating phlegm. Any disease belonging to deficiency, rather than acute onset, is strictly contraindicated. (Chen Shigong)